Tapeheads is not a subtle film. It is not brilliant film. What it is is
one of the most unique and funny American comedies in a long time. What
allows this movie to rise above the stupidity in which it revels in is
two-fold. Its quirky sense of humor is so unique and refreshing, that
you're not only willing but looking forward to the plot which can politely
described as asinine. Secondly, it has the Swankey Modes, who are
actually
soul legends Sam Moore and Junior Walker. They bring a delightful energy
and great music to the movie.

It would be pointless to bring up specific scenes, except to say that
this movie has approximately ten or fifteen of the funniest vignettes of
the
year. There are also plenty of misses, but the joy in seeing them make
the
effort allows you to forgive all the misses.

John Cusack and Tim Robbins, both exceptional actors capable of great
subtlety, exhibit none of it here. What they replace it with is a great
comic energy and a willingness to do almost anything for a joke. Cusack
is
especially endearing as a total sleazeball who will do anything for a
buck.
Michael Nesmith (yes, That one!) produces this farce and demonstrates what
we already knew- He was really the talented one, and the funniest one.

I imagine that there will be people who hate this movie. People who
hate its lack of subtlety, who hate the implausible plot, and who just
don't
get a humor that most can most aptly described as off kilter. What they
don't understand is that the humor in this movie is a complete original,
and
the lengths this movie takes to see it through are admirable and at times
breathtaking. And it is for those reasons that Tapeheads is one of the
great American comedies of the 1980's, and one of the most underrated
movies
ever made.

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